The semi-weekly fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1887-12-02
RAIDED BY BEARS.
Bruin Invading Farms in Cen
trail Pennsylvania.
Gornfelds FOraged and Hog Pens
Robbed By Them.

bear were never so numerous and bold IL
Central Pennsylvania they are this fall
In Centre county, says a dispatch TO the New
York St,n, they have walked boldly
into villages, and ole was killec
the other day on a farm within eight
miles of Bellefonte, the county seat and home
Of Governor Curtin. In Franklin county, in
the North Mountain region, bears invaded
the corn fields in such numbers during the
husking season just ended that great loss
was sustained by the farmers in the corn
devoured and carried away by the ami
mails Over the line in Fulton county.
especially in Tod township, more than one
farmer has been robbed of his winters pork
by marauding bears. In Cumberland coun-
ty near the Perry county line, many bears
have been seen this month and three killed.
The other day an immense bear was seen
entering the village of Milesburg, Centre
county, having come down from the woods
near by. He coolly crossed the iron
up the middle of the. main street.
People who were in the street got
quickly out Of it. Horses snorted and tug
ged at their tie straps, but the bear kept on
its way. Before it had gone far a num-
Der of dogs got wiud of it, and appeared
upon the scene. The bear turned
and dashed ?1: through A, T. B9gg's
short cut out of town for the woods. There
was no one IN Mllesburg anxious to go bear
hunting, and the bear lead the dogs long
chase. and returned TO the mountains.
Two other bears that tried the brave and
impudent act at William farmers, near the
Loop, in Centre County, on Tuesday night
did not fare as well the lone visitor at
Milesburg. Farmer and his wife were return
ing home from a neighbours, at s o'clock,
when they saw bear walk out of
their front yard, shuttle across the
road ahead Of them, and stop under a
tree in field few yards away. As they
stood looking at the impudent bear, another
one came sliding down out Of the tree and
Joined the one at the foot of the tree. Then
the first bear climbed the tree, and, after
reaching the branches, slid back down,
as his mate had done, and
then the latter repeated the peform-
ance. While the two bears were having
this sport between themselves paying no at
tention to the spectators, Farmer told his
wife to go into the house and get his gun, his
revolver and his axe. By the time she re-
turned prayer meeting was over in the village
and the people were returning home.
They ali stopped to see the extraordi-
having a circus under the noses of twenty
spectators. The bears paid not the slightest
attention to the people, but took turns in
climbing and sliding down the tree
the bears as it stood on the ground waiting
for it's turn to climb, and it limped hur-
riedly off toward the woods, bowling fear
fully The other bear did not slide
among the branches. Farmer went closer,
and bOmbarded the bear as it perched in the
tree, but he shot it four times, literally rid
ding it with buckshot, before it fell to the
ground. 1t was at once set upon with poles
clubs, and axes by the crowd, and the little
life left in it was beaten out.
The GentZell farm is two miles from Belle
fonte, at the foot of Bald Eagle Mountain
dove Tnl1T
farm, was told by a neighbor that a big
bear in his corn field, stripping
the shocks and playing bob generally.
Farmer Gentzell is no hunter, but he
keeps a gun, and taking it with
him, he went to his field, which was in
sight of his house, to see if there really was a
bear there husking his crop. Sure enough,
an enormous black fellow stood at one of the
shocks, scattering the stalks about and strip
ping off the ears. Gentzell gave hruin one
charge from his rife. The bear Jumped into |
the air and fell back fiat on the ground The |
farmer supposed he had killed his game, but |
while he was loading his gun the bear jumped |
up and slouched away and disappeared !
among the corn shocks. GentGell followed !
him, expecting every moment to come upon |
his dead body, but was surprised to discover
him at the other end of the field working |
away at another shock of corn as if nothing
had happened.
Gentzen then shouted to his brother Henry.
who was at work IN another field, and while
two more balls Into the bear. Bru then
made for the mountains, limping along
On three legs. The brothers followed
him, and fourth shot was fired into
him. This did not finish the tough
Did customer, and, now thoroughly
aroused, he turned on his pursuers, ami
rushed upon Henry Gent7ell in such furious
Charge that the farmer was PROSTATE on the
ground, with the bear paving and chewing
1t his leg, before he knew what had hap
oened 1t was lucky for Gentzel that his
brother was there, for the bear would
lave torn him to pieces in a minute
more. The brother sprang forward,
md with one blow of the heavy rifle broke
he bears back, and the fierce brute fell over
md died. The flesh was torn from Henry
leg from the knee down. The bear
vas one of the biggest ones ever killed in the
ounty, weighing between 800 and 400
sounds
Three boys were hunting rabbits on Tues
ay near Cowans Gan, in Franklin County.
hey started a rabbit and it ran into
corn stock One of the boys went
D the stock to kick and scare the
abbit ont, while the two others stood
eady to shoot it. The rabbit jumped
ut of one side, but neither boy shot it for
n the ocher side bear tumbled out and sur
eyed the youthful hunters in establishment
he rabbit got away, and did the boys
he bear was afterward killed in the same /
ED by farmer named Wagner.